To Kill a Demon

[jenson]

Jenson was running through the bushes, leaping over fallen tree's, and ducking under large branches. They'd been following him for over an hour now, several demos had caught onto the trail of the crystal, and sought to kill him in order to gain the crystal and free the demon that resided within it. He of course, was not about to let that happen, he'd drawn his sword, and hooked the staff onto the inside of the shield that was located on his back. He could hear the cries of the dark creatures behind him, they weren't that far now, he may have been able to outrun them if he hadn't been traveling at a jog for days already - he wasn't even confident in his ability to fight them.

Jenson turned and swung his sword as one of the creatures came to close, it took a nasty gash across the chest and backed up monentarily. Another one came from his side, and he only just managed to bring up his sword in time to deflect the metal-like claw that was reaching for him. "Get back demons, I wont let you win." He muttered, in hopes that he might discourage them from attacking. He realized it wasn't helping as he felt a pain in his back, something had circled around him and managed to get him with a claw - he spun around and swung the sword mid-pin, it decapitated the creature before it could do more harm. Jenson was in visible pain now, he was haunched over slightly, like a fool he brought his sword up again, unprepared to fight them off.

[Zane]

Crystal was flying high above the valley taking in the sights. The world can be so beautiful...... she thought as she looked. She didn't understand why other angels just wanted to stay in the city. There was so much out there, how could you possibly stay in one place?

SHe looked down again and noticed some person being chased by what looked to be demons. Wonder if he needs help.... she thought. The man was suddenly hit and had stopped running. However he still faced the demons. SHe decided to help him. She decended down, staff in hand, and started muttering a spell. Before the demons knew it, hail was starting to fall on their heads. SHe made sure no of it would fall on the man but it was hard. She wasn't as experienced with ice magic.

[jenson]

Jenson blinked as hail began to pelt the demons around him, it was miraculously missing him though. He took the opportunity that the distraction had provided - he smashed the hilt of his sword into one of the creatures faces, and then stabbed forward against another demon and impaled it. Only two demons now remained and one of them was still reeling from the hilt blow. He ducked a swipe from one of the claws and began to back away from the group of creatures. "Now, I've told your kind before; stop following me, or I'll find a way to kill you." Jenson muttered, as the demons began to back away. Jenson took a glance upwards and nodded in thanks to crystal, his suspicions had been right about the hail not being quite natural.

A thought crossed his mind for a split second, that he should chase the demons down and finish them. Of course, they would lead him to a larger group and kill him...he didn't know here that thought had come from. He proceeded to back away form the two demons.

[Zane]

Crystal was glad to see that the man had been able to get rid of most of the demons. She was aslo glad when he looked up and nodded at her. She waved and winked when the man looked. As he back away, She made two large ice blocks and dropped them on the last demons heads knocking them out.

She then decided to decended to the ground and meet this man. When she had reached earshot she said "Hi there"

[jenson]

Jenson walked over to where she had landed, the walk looked somewhat pained, there was a large slash just under the shield covering his back. "Hello there." He called out as he came closer. "I don't think I would have survived that without your help," he stated quickly. "These things appear to be following me almost non stop, I encountered more of them several days ago several leagues behind me."

He winced slightly from the wound, and decided it would be best if he could get to the closest village to get bandaged. "You wouldn't be able to point me in the direction of a city, would you? It appears the wound I took in the battle may be worse than I had first though." Jenson looked around after speaking, keeping a wary eye for more of the evil creatures that had been hunting him for months now.

[Zane]

Crystal smiled and said, "No problem. Your lucky I was flying around." She noticed though he seemd to be in pain from the wound he got earlier. He then asked about the nearest city. She thought it over for a minute, "Well.....the closest place would have to be Feeorin Village." she said finally

She then looked a bit concerned. "However, its quite a ways away. Will you be able to make it on your own?" She didn't think it was that far since she could fly and flying never took that long. SHe was concerned since this man had to walk there and she wasn't sure if he could in that condition.

[jenson]

Jenson nodded. "Thank you. And don't worry about me being able to make it or not, it may be better for everyone there that I don't ever arrive - even if it would only provide a temporary safety." He replied. After sheathing his sword back on his belt, and lifting the staff from under the shield, he began to walk away again, using the staff to help support him. "I'm not sure what it is you plan on doing, but if you decide to come along, it'd be best to be prepared for much larger creatures to appear." Jenson stated grimly.

He sighed, if only he could be done with the stone and be living the way he was just a year ago, hunting these demons one by one, rather than being hunted by large groups of them. He glared at the stone, knowing that the demon inside had caused this. Another though crossed his mind, was there anywhere in the world that could defend or hide the stone until the means were found to destroy it? He didn't know how many demons there were looking for him, but if it was to be defended, it would help to be prepared for a force much larger than might normally be expected.

[Zane]

Crystal was still concerned that the man would not make it so she said with smile, "Just call me your air support" She then flew upwards a bit since she didn't like to walk much. "So what is your name?" she asked. " I don't want to be traveling with a total stranger"

She hoped they wouldn't encounter anymore demons. She liked flying around and enjoying the scenery. She couldn't really do that if demons would be attacking.

[jenson]

Jenson grinned slightly. "I'm Jenson, it's a pleasure to meet you...?" He left the sentence hanging so that she could answer her own name. He glanced at her as she lifted ff into the air. "I suppose that makes traveling easy doesn't it? Just avoid any creatures, and fly over any terrain that could take weeks to pass through?"

Jenson let out another small grin before wincing yet again. Flying would have it's benefits, but he could imagine how much attention you would draw from crowds simply by passing over an area during your travels. How long of a march is it from here to wherever it is we are supposed to be headed to wards?" Jenson inquired.

[Zane]

She smiled. "My name is Crystal. Its a pleasure to meet you" she told him. He then commented on her flying. "Yes it does make travelling easier. Which is good when you are a traveller. I don't know what I'd do without my wings."

She floated behind him flying a bit slower than usual to keep up with his pace. He then asked how long it would take to get there. "Well......" she bagan. "I'm not one to ask how long it takes to walk there. If I flew there I could probably get there in an hour or two. But as for walking I have no idea." She realized she should really try walking places. However, she didn't think this would happen anytime soon.

[jenson]

Jenson nodded and glanced towards the ground momentarily, it would have been helpful if he had wings as well, he could simply fly to the settlement and get help there within an hour or two. Instead, he had to walk the entire distance, which could take days depending on the terrain that was located in front of them. The soulstone at the head of his staff increased in brightness momentarily, but Jenson was still looking at the ground as it did so, and made no note of it.

"I really hope this journey wont take to long, i'm worried that the wound will become infected with some disease, with them being demons and all." He said, voicing his concern. He seemed to give the staff he was carrying a long look, as if something about it worried him. He looked up as a black bird flew out of the tree in front of him, the sudden flight of it had startled him from his thoughts. "What do you think of that attack back there? I don't particularly see why they want this..."

[Zane]

Crystal shrugged as she flew beside him. "I don't know. I was just flying around and it looked like you needed help." she told him. "I didn't even realize they wanted your staff"

They walked a bit further and it became obvious that this would take awhile. Since Jenson was worried about his wound she then suggested, "Maybe can carry you to the town and fly there? I'm not sure if I'll make it within and hour or two with the extra wait but it'll be a lot faster" She didn't want to have this man suffer more than he already had.

[jenson]

"It's called wishfull thinking, I'm not having any more people go that far out of their way to help me." Jenson quickly replied. It seemed as though he was wishing he could have help - but denying anything that was offered for some unexplainable reason. "When I get to th town, I wont even likely stay that long, I need to seek places out, seek certain people out, to gain knowledge."

He grumbled lightly to himself, most likely cursing himself for not accepting the help, but he continued on at a steady pace, punishment for bringing along this trapped demon. If only he'd left it with the mage! a small tapping nose was made each time he took a step - it was the end of the staff hitting the ground as he continued towards the town. He walked in silence for over an hour, thinking about his current predicament, and began to realize he had been unnecessarily angry towards the person who had saved him. He turned his head to look at crystal. "I must apologize for my behavior earlier, it isn't normal for me to act like that..."

[Zane]

All Crystal could say to his response was, "Um......ok" She flew beside him still. She wanted to make sure this man made it to the village. They had been silent for awhile when he suddenly spoke up and apologized. When he she just smiled and said "Sure, its ok"

They travelled a bit longer. Suddenly she said, "Here, let me see how close we are." She then flew up high above to get a good view of their surrondings. SHe looked and saw the village. It was still quite a ways but she didn't think it wouldn't take too long. She decended back down and said, "We'll still have to travel quite a ways but I think we should be there within the day"

[jenson]

"That's good, I suppose." He said, not able to hold back a smile. He was happy that he was going to be treated for his wound, he couldn't get rid of a feeling of dread that the demon's would attack him while he was in the village - harming the innocents in the process. The thought that he would reach his destination soon gave him renewed strength, and he began to walk slightly faster, the tapping of the staff increased in volume.

As he walked he pulled out a small puch from his belt, and took out what appeared to be cheese and stale bread. He offered some to crystal, quickly eating his own portion of the food and taking a gulp from the flask of water that was fastned to his belt.